I sure understand Logo! My masseuse is a dream, and she is also an RN. One of her specialized areas is fibro and CMP. She can tell where my pain is and is very careful.
When I talked about that very first fibro flare I had, I guess I forgot to say the lack of diagnosis. When my doc sent me to the rheumy, the rheumy said I had a virus running through my system.
The pain lightened up a little for about a month, then came back again with a vengeance. My doc put me back on percodan which was the only thing that killed the pain, and again sent me back to the rheumy. This time he said I had fibromyalgia and chronic myofascia pain.
My symptoms were classic. I hurt on both sides of my body in exactly the same places, which is characteristic of the fibro. But this myofascia stuff is a beeeech! My doc told me back then that the FMS and CMP were basically the same thing. I always wondered about that. That's why I'm so glad to see Wittesea's link! Those 2 'syndromes' may run in a pack, but they are 2 entirely different pains in my opinion!
Now I have arthritis added to that list so that hasn't been a peach of news either. My hands are getting really hard with it. To top that off, I've developed another really strange disease called Depuytren’s contracture. When I went in to the hand specialist for what was diagnosed tennis elbow, he looked at my hands and said, "When did you start developing the lumps on your palms? You have Depuytren’s contracture."
Huh? What? I kinda wondered what the lumps were but they started on my right hand so I figured it was just from my intensive computer work and the mouse was hurting my hand. But then the lumps started on my left hand too, so I wondered. Well, now I know.
It sucks. And now I'm noticing that when using the mouse, the ones on the right hand are really irritated.
You probably never heard of it, I hadn't. A description:
Quote:
Dupuytren's contracture is an abnormal thickening of tough tissue in the palm and fingers that can cause the fingers to curl. It is more common in men than in women and becomes more common as we grow older.
Dupuytren's contracture usually occurs very gradually. It may begin as a small tender lump in the palm. Over time the pain usually goes away, but tough bands may form that cause the fingers to bend toward the palm. The ring and small fingers are most commonly affected.
There is no way to stop or cure the problem. It is not dangerous. Dupuytren's contracture usually progresses very slowly and may not be troublesome for years. If a painful lump is present, an injection may help diminish the pain. If the fingers become bent, they may interfere with use of your hand. Surgery is recommended when inability to straighten the fingers significantly limits your hand function.
Surgery for Dupuytren's contracture divides or removes the thickened bands to help restore finger motion. Sometimes the wound is left open and allowed to heal gradually. Skin grafting may sometimes be needed. Risks of surgery include injury to nerves and blood vessels and infection. Some swelling and soreness are expected but severe problems are rare. Elevating your hand after surgery and gently moving the fingers helps minimize pain, swelling and stiffness. A physical therapist may be helpful during your recovery after surgery. Most people will have improved motion in the fingers after surgery.
Surgery does not cure the disease, which tends to progress gradually and recur over time.
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Which is WAY more than you ever wanted to know, right? LOL!
So far mine is under the ring fingers of both hands. The lumps are very clearly seen. They're about the size of peas right now.
Anyway, if you read all this, I am in awe.
Take care.